Last week, the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. All Democrats present and more than two out of three Republicans voted for the bill, which passed 355-59. However, later in the week, the Senate fell one vote short to move the bill forward.

The legislation would have addressed the 10.6 percent cut to Medicare physicians, which is scheduled to take effect today. It also included direct beneficiary improvements, such as strengthening low-income protections against rising Medicare costs, expanding coverage for preventive care, reducing copayments for mental health services, and strengthening managed care consumer protections. In addition, the bill would have extended the Qualifying Individual (QI) program (which pays Medicare part B premiums for eligible low-income beneficiaries), which is scheduled to expire today.

Senate leaders have indicated that they will vote on the bill again when they return from this week's recess. NCOA supports the bill and will continue to advocate for the beneficiary improvements. If you have the chance to visit your senators over the July 4 recess, please let them know that low-income protections should be included in any Medicare legislation this year.